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VideoGearHands On Reviews.....
Crisp Video, Cool Features From Sony's Latest DVCAM Camcorder
Call me a traditionalist, but I'm a firm believer that camcorders were meant to be perched on shoulders. Sony's new DSR-PDX10, however, might just change my mind.
The latest in Sony's line of DVCAM camcorders, the PDX10 provides a nice combination of features and picture quality in a palm-sized package. Improving on the DSR-PD100A, the new PDX 10 is a native 16:9 camcorder with 3 0.21-inch CCDs, each with 1,070,000 pixels. The PD100A had to be content with 380,000 pixels and electronically processing for its widescreen images.
The PDX10 doesn't use all the pixels on each chip for 16:9 or 4:3 acquisition. In fact, still-image capture uses the most pixels (1 million) for acquisition. That said, Sony reports the camcorder uses 690,000 pixels per CCD for either 16:9 or 4:3 images.
Beach Blanket Demo
Recently, I had the opportunity to test the DSRPDX10 in Miami Beach, FL, before Sony conducted one of its " Road Show" demonstrations. I had visions of bikini-clad fashion models basking in the sunshine and posing in the sand. Alas, a cold front swept in hours before I ventured onto the beach, the sky was overcast, and the models were fellow magazine editors. Welcome to my life.
Sony graciously sent us out with a number of Sony DVCAM camcorders, including the DSR-PD150 (another palmcorder), DSR-250 (the same optics as the PD150 but in a shoulder-mount design), and DSR-570WS (Sony's high-end shoulder-mount, 16:9 native DVCAM unit). I had an opportunity to shoot with all the units and review the footage, but I was particularly interested in putting this latest model through its paces. After all, it's the DVCAM camcorder with the lowest price tag in the group (MSRP $3,100), which immediately increases interest among those professionals in modest-sized or boutique production or postproduction houses. Or, other pros just looking for something light and small to work with.
On the beach, with the clouds looming, the camera provided a nice contrast between sky and ocean, and close-ups of the local birds showed very clear details. When the bad weather passed, the camcorder really shined, as the colors of the beachfront buildings popped in the bright sunlight.